Regarding "Avoiding frenzy at QB no help in 1st game" (Page C1, Sunday), Bob McNair's statement, "I knew with Manziel it would be a frenzy," as the reason the Texans passed up the opportunity to draft Manziel shows a clear and disturbing misunderstanding of what most Houston fans want.

We want buzz, exhilaration, excitement, thrill, anticipation. We want frenzy! If the pathetic loss and boring performance we had to witness in the first pre-season game is what we can expect, then many of us will be watching the Cleveland Browns and enjoying a bit of frenzy.

Johanna Lockhart, Houston

Oil independence

Regarding "Abundant crude sweet for refiners" (Page A1, Wednesday), North America and the United States are starting to show their potential for providing enough crude to meet our current and future demands and not be dependent on the Middle East. In the past, almost any uprising in any Middle Eastern country would automatically cause the gas prices to go up here. It's not happening now.

By not needing to be dependent on the Middle East, we don't have to get involved in their civil matters to protect our suppliers of crude.

Robert M. Louie, Houston

Speaking Spanish in class

Regarding "Speaking English would prepare students for state tests" (Page B7, Aug. 7), even though somewhat late, I would like other teachers to applaud Amy Lacey, the former principal of Hempstead Middle School, for encouraging the English as a Second Language students to speak English in the classrooms to better prepare themselves for the state tests which are in English.

I taught in a near-downtown public school and did not think the ESL teachers did enough to encourage the students to speak in English. My opinion at the time (1986-1994) was that the children would not be prepared for middle school and would eventually drop out.

Any chance I get to talk to Spanish-speaking parents, I encourage them not to enroll their children in the ESL program. They should insist on their children being placed in English-speaking classes because they learn English from the other students in class, as well as at play.

Theresa M. Sagan, Houston

Police chases

Regarding "Police chase turns deadly after suspect hits SUV, killing 5" (Page B1, Monday), tell me, what is it that local law enforcement agencies don't seem to understand about high-speed police chases on the increasingly overcrowded streets and freeways of metropolitan Harris County?

Sooner or later, and of late, more often than not, innocent people are being killed by the cowboy police attitude and tactics. Is it really worth it? I doubt the innocent folks killed the last few days would think so. Enough is enough.